STONE METEORITES

Stones constitute the largest group of meteorites. They originated in the outer crust of a planet or asteroid. Recently-fallen stone meteorites are covered by a thin, black rind known as fusion crust, which forms as the rock’s surface is burned during flight. Fusion crust is fragile and deteriorates easily, so stone meteorites that have been on the surface of our planet for a long time have a similar appearance to Earth rocks. Visible inside most stone meteorites are tiny, glassy, spheres known as chondrules. Forged at the very dawn of the Solar System, these chondrules are far older than our own planet. Some stone meteorites, known as carbonaceous chondrites, have been found to contain water, salt, and even amino acids. In the distant past, these meteorites may have carried the very building blocks of life to Earth.

ALLENDE

Often described as “the most studied meteorite in history,” Allende is one of the most fascinating and desirable space rocks available to collectors. It is a very rare witnessed fall carbonaceous chondrite and its massive nighttime fireball was seen by hundreds of people in rural Mexico in 1969. Many pieces were picked up by locals the next morning and acquired by Dr. Elbert King who designated NASA’s Lunar Receiving Lab from the Apollo Era. Allende contains carbon and microscopic diamonds, believed to be the last remnants of an exploding sun that predates our own solar system! As such, at an estimated 12 billion years, they are the oldest things any human has ever touched. Space diamonds from the beginning of time.

BELLE PLAINE

Ordinary chondrite L6, Found in United States, 1950

This exquisite full slice of the celebrated Kansas black chondrite comes from the Oscar Monnig Meteorite Collection and has been cut marvelously thin to offer fantastic surface-to-weight ratio. Click on photo to see the extremely unusual micro-breccia in detail photos. We’ve never seen this in a meteorite before! Quite dazzling and a gorgeous, impressive display piece.

BENCUBBIN

Carbonaceous chondrite CBa, Found in Australia, 1930

The strangest space rock! Bencubbin, found in Australia in 1930, gives its name to the ultra-rare bencubbin class. Appearing in every way like an iron (or at least a stony-iron) meteorite, it is, bizarrely, actually a stone carbonaceous chondrite. Showing unique features, this odd bird of the space lanes is as strange as they come, and almost, never available on the collectors’ market.

BROWNFIELD

BUZZARD COULEE

Ordinary chondrite H4, Witnessed fall in Canada, November 28, 2008

Buzzard Coulee was one of the most spectacular witnessed falls of modern times. Aerolite President, Geoff Notkin, made two successful expeditions to the strewnfield, one of which was filmed for the popular “Buzzard Coulee/Whitecourt” episode of Meteorite Men. These excellent specimens were found by Geoff’s Canadian hunting partners and all specimens have legal export papers from Canada. Quickly snapped up by collectors, these are our last examples of this must-have witnessed fall. All specimens show excellent fusion crust.

CHELYABINSK

Every meteorite enthusiast will forever remember the astonishing news of the truly massive fireball and explosions over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in February of 2013. It was easily the largest meteoritic event since the Sikhote-Alin fall of 1947. Many of these pieces show impact melt features and a dark grey to nearly black interior. This superbolide was traveling at an astonishing speed of 42,900 mph and generated light brighter than sun. The shock wave from the fireball caused damage to over 7,000 buildings spreading across six cities.

COVERT

Ordinary Chondrite H5, Witnessed fall in Covert, Kansas, 1896

This historic stone meteorite was recognized in 1929 by pioneering meteorite researcher H.H. Nininger. A search was conducted and a total of ten meteorites were recovered from the area. Some had been used by locals as door stops, weights, and fill for a concrete floor. Aerolite Meteorites recently acquired a large mass from a prominent old collection and had it sliced and prepared by one of our favorite prep artists. These gorgeous slices display a wealth of metal flecks in a velvety night sky matrix. We requested only one side be fully polished while the other was left untreated, thereby clearly showing the brecciation in this fascinating meteorite. Some of the finest stone slices we’ve ever offered for sale.

DAR EL KAHAL

Ordinary Chondrite H5–6, Found in Mali, Africa, 2013

A strewnfield roughly 10 km in diamater produced about 85 kg of fragments and individuals, with an average weigh of perhaps a few hundred grams. Only a couple of larger masses were recovered and these excellent full slices come from one of them. These slices have a medium polish on one face and a protective coating on the other (giving a particularly nice, glossy finish). These large slices are very attractive, showy pieces, with abundant, shiny metal flakes and make for impressive display pieces. We rarely see full chondrite slices of this size, and these are priced to move.

EL TIRO

Ordinary Chondrite L3, Found in Mexico, 2013

We are very pleased to present a beautiful and intriguing new find, with marvelous brecciation. El Tiro (meaning “the shot”) was discovered in January of 2013 by a gold prospector colleague of ours, close to the small settlement of El Tiro in Sonora, Mexico. Only a single stone was recovered with a total known weight of just 2.4 kilograms. The stone displayed gentle regmaglypts, weathering cracks, and a fair amount of fusion crust. El Tiro’s grey, blue and brown matrix exhibits abundant, multi-colored breccia clasts, metallic flakes, and dark chondrules. We acquired the entire mass from the finder and proceeded with classification. El Tiro is an Aerolite exclusive.

GAO-GUENIE

Ordinary chondrite H5, Witnessed fall in Burkina Faso, March 5, 1960

A large number of meteorites fell on March 5, 1960 over the African nations of Burkina Faso (previously the Republic or Upper Volat) and the resulting thunderous sound was heard over 100 kilometers away! Many pieces were later found by farmers working in their fields. Originally named Gao, its was later determined by scientists to be identical to another African meteorite, Genie, and the two names were fused into one. This lovely meteorite is one of the best examples of a chondrite. Specimens show fusion crust and an attractive ochre-patina. Many also show classic features of orientation, including rollover lips.

GAO-GUENIE SLICES

GAO-GUENIE ORIENTED INDIVIDUALS

Most incoming potential meteorites spin and tumble as they plummet through the atmosphere. Occasionally, one will maintain a fixed orientation towards the surface of our planet, causing the leading edge to ablate into a shield, nose cone, or bullet shape. When meteorites ablate, some of their mass is removed as a result of vaporization. Meteorites which display such features are quite rare, highly collectible, and are described as oriented. Oriented meteorites were studied by early NASA spacecraft designers and the leading edges of such meteorites are reminiscent of the heat shields on Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space capsules.

GOLD BASIN

Ordinary chondriteL4 , Found in United States, 1995

An Arizona gold prospector, Jim Kriegh, discovered ancient stone meteorites in an area of arroyos in Mohave County, Arizona. His friend and fellow metal detectorist, Twink Monrad, joined him in the hunt and they spent years carefully documenting their finds. Gold Basin has been described as “one of best mapped strewnfields in history.” We filmed a first season episode of Meteorite Men at this famous site in 2009.

GOLD BASIN HALF STONES

While Gold Basin doesn’t look particularly interesting on the outside, when prepared in the lab, it reveals a wonderland of colorful relict chondrules, Impressionist-like mists of matrix color, with a peppering of metal flakes. These half stones were cut and expertly polished on a diamond lap to show off their gorgeous interiors.

GOLD BASIN LARGE SPECIMENS

HAXTUN

HOLBROOK

Ordinary chondrite L/LL6 , Witnessed fall in United States, 1912

July 19, 1912, on a hot and dry desert summer evening, a series of loud booms, and several explosions rocked the quiet town of Holbrook, Arizona. Many thousand stones showered the ground, most the size of a pea. The largest weighing just 6 kilograms (14 pounds). Initially, an estimated 14,000 stones were recovered. Most with pristine rich-black fusion crust, which is obtained during it’s fiery journey through our atmosphere.

A team of esteemed meteorite hunters visited the area to celebrate the falls recent 100 anniversary, each successfully returning with a pea sized treasure of their own. Due to the size and age of the fall, Holbrook has been an extremely well studied meteorite. It has educated scientists in the rate of terrestrial weathering (the slow decay of the delicate rind called fusion crust).

These magnificent fusion-crusted Holbrook individuals are from the historic H.H. Nininger American Meteorite Lab Collection. They were acquired directly from the Center for Meteorite Studies at ASU in an institutional trade. ASU purchased the bulk of Nininger’s collection during the 1960s and these specimens were stored in a tray of AML specimens, alongside larger specimens with numbers. Our Holbrook peas are accompanied by a special certificate of authenticity/ID card verifying its ironclad Nininger provenance.

JIDDAT AL HARASIS (JaH) 020

Ordinary chondrite L6, Found in Oman, 2000

These attractive whole stones display good remnant fusion crust, have very appealing shapes and are amazing affordable. A great way to add a sizable stone meteorite to your collection at a bargain price.

LABENNE SAHARA

Unclassified chondrite, Found in Northwest Africa, 1999

During the mid-to-late 1990s the French meteorite hunting Labenne family began finding stone meteorites in the arid deserts of Northwest Africa. These finds were made years before the NWA classification system was adopted, and were some of the very first Sahara meteorite discoveries. Each carries a unique hand painted field number. For example “99053” was the 53rd meteorite found during the 1999 expedition. Several have nice polished windows. Historic pre-NWA hot desert meteorites with original field numbers.

MILLBILLILLIE

Not only is Millbillillie a very rare witnessed-fall eucrite, it is also one of the most visually appealing meteorites available to collectors. Eucrites are achondrites (stone meteorites without chondrules) — volcanic rock from other worlds, and comprised largely of silicate minerals. Millbillillie meteorites are light in weight, similar to terrestrial pumice, so even a specimen as modest as 6 or 7 grams can still be enjoyed and studied without magnification. Millbillillies typically exhibit a dazzling color combination: glossy black fusion crust mixed with bright orange Australian desert soil which adhered to the crust, producing a color contrast of unique and striking beauty. The afternoon fall occurred in October of 1960, and was witnessed by only two men, near the town of Wiluna in Western Australia. It was ten years until the first stone was found.

Like so many important meteorites, Millbillillie is now extremely difficult to obtain and the specimens pictured here are the last in our inventory.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 869

Ordinary chondrite L3 – 6, Found in Northwest Africa, 2000

Born by fire, Northwest Africa 869 is one of the most fascinating and affordable meteorites available to collectors. It has a highly unusual classification, L 3-6, meaning it shows characteristics of different meteorite types within the same mass. NWA 869 is a breccia — a rock made up of fragments of other rocks that have been compressed or cemented together. The most likely explanation for the formation of this mosaic-like mixture of space material is the collision of asteroid, millions or billions of years ago, somewhere in the void between Mars and Jupiter. NWA 869 illustrates the monumental processes at work in the solar system and its diverse and fascinating structure means it is sometime described as “an entire meteorite classroom in a single rock.”

NORTHWEST AFRICA 869 POLISHED END CUTS & HALF STONES

We consider NWA 869 to have one of the most attractive interiors of any chondrite and these polished half stones and end cuts show this fascinating chondrite at its absolute best. All pieces have been expertly prepared by one of our top labs and meticulously finished on a diamond lap to the very highest standards.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 869 MATCHED PAIRS

We consider NWA 869 to have one of the most attractive interiors of any chondrite and these gorgeous matched pairs show this fascinating chondrite at its absolute best. All pieces have been expertly prepared by one of our top labs and meticulously finished on a diamond lap to the very highest standards.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 4502

Carbonaceous chondrite (CV3), Found in Algeria, 2005

With its shiny black exterior and dark brown interior, punctuated by large orange chondrules, this interesting carbonaceous chondrite looks very atypical from most members of its group. Classified by T. Bunch and J. Wittke it is officially described in the Meteoritical Bulletin has having “well-defined chondrules, chondrule fragments, and refractory inclusions set in a slightly weathered matrix.” Our full slices, half stones, and end cuts have been highly polished on a diamond lap to show 4502’s intriguing interior features in the best possible light. With its colorful undifferentiated chondrules, 4502 is a glimpse back to the formation of our solar system, over 4.6 billion years ago.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 4664

HED Diogenite, Found Algeria 2006

Diogenites are believed to originate from deep within the crust of the asteroid 4 Vesta and are among the rarest of meteorite types, and it is extremely difficult to find a specimen large enough to prepare into slices of this size! An olivine-rich treasure.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 4799

NORTHWEST AFRICA 5950

Carbonaceous Chondrite CV3, Found in Northwest Africa, 2009

We have a long and happy history with this unusual CV3, which was classified by Bathurst Observatory in New South Wales, Australia. Only about 3 kg of this material was initially found and Aerolite acquired most of it. Perhaps about two more kilos of small pieces were later recovered. NWA 5950 presents colorful orange chondrules in a dark matrix. All cut specimens have been expertly prepared on a diamond lap and show a bright and shiny finish. The exterior is dark brown with weathered remnant fusion crust.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 6135

Ordinary Chondrite LL3.8, Found in Northwest Africa,

This marvelous LL3 is a honeycomb of densely-packed yellow, grey and green chondrules. In the pre-NWA days a chondrule-rich LL such as this would have sold for hundreds of dollars a gram. Beautiful complete polished slices at only $8/gram. That’s a lot of chondrules for your buck.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 6704

NORTHWEST AFRICA 6963

Martian meteorite, Shergottite Found Nortwest Africa 2011

Occasionally meteorites strike the planet Mars with enough force to throw pieces of the planet out into space. Against all odds, some of those fragments have traveled through space and impacted with our own planet. In September of 2011 a Moroccan meteorite hunter recovered the first pieces of NWA 6963. Further searches produced specimens ranging from 100 to 700 grams, as well as a few from 3-10 grams. It is thought that the total mass could weigh a massive 8-10 kilograms. We have very few fragments — some with fusion crust — and a few slices available.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 6950

Lunar, Gabbro Found in Northwest Africa, 2011

Northwest Africa 6950 is the 6,950th meteorite to be classified from the arid deserts regions of the Sahara Desert. The total known weight of this spectacular meteorite is 1,649 grams, one single yellowish-green stone partially covered in fusion crust. This piece has shock veins, which are caused by impacts which produce pressure, which heats, melts, and deforms the rock.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7397 (Martian)

Stone, Martian Shergottite, Found in Northwest Africa, 2012

Northwest Africa 7397 is a martian meteorite found in the dry deserts of Africa in 2012. It was examined by meteorite scientists A. Irving and S. Kuehner at the University of Washington and classified as a shergottite. The superb slices were expertly prepared on a special hi-tech saw for maximum surface area and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The amazing fragments allow you to clearly view greenish-hue interior and some specimens have fusion crust! Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of the Red Planet. We have a very limited supply of these lovely difficult-to-acquire specimens.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7454

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3, Found in Northwest Africa, 2012

A kaleidoscope of chondrules! The colorful, rounded grains clearly visible in NWA 7454 are chondrules that formed in the solar nebula 4.6 billion years ago, as our solar system was being built. These tiny glass spheres hold within them a key to understanding how the rocky bodies of the solar system — including our very own home planet Earth — were born.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7457

Ordinary Chondrite, L5 melt breccia, Found in Northwest Africa, 2012

Northwest Africa 7457 is one of nine specimens classified as L5 melt breccia, a material formed when extreme pressure and heat generated by an significant impact partially melts the parent rock. These meteorites show a deformed and melted matrix as a result of the collision. The total known weight of this rare meteorite is only 15.5 kilograms.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7498

Ordinary Chondrite L4, Found in Morocco, 2012

The total known weight of this very pretty L4 is only 1,101 grams. Its attractive, dark interior is packed with large grey chondrules and very fine nickel iron flakes. This chondrite is rich in troilite, “some decorating chondrule rims, scattered taenite and kamacite, minor CI-rich apatite and high-Ca pyroxene.”

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7678

Carbonaceous Chondrite CV3, Found in Morocco, 2012

NWA 7678 was acquired by a friend and colleague and classified at the Institute of Meteoritics in Albuquerque. We purchased a significant number of slices as this is one of the finest chondrule-rich meteorites we have ever seen. Extraordinary chondrule density and color makes this lovely, and very affordable, stone one of the most alluring examples of a carbonaceous chondrite on the market.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 7831

HED Achondrite, Diogenite, Found in Western Sahara, 2013

Diogenites are among the very rarest of all space rocks. Of almost 58,000 officially recognized meteorites, only about 450 are diogenites. Thought to have formed within the asteroid Vesta, they contain little or no iron and display large, green crystals. Although we have offered diogenite slices in the past, never in our careers have we seen anything like this. Sliced ultra thin, NWA 7831 is gloriously translucent and visually reminiscent of a pallasite made entirely of olivine. Among the most beautiful material we’ve ever had the pleasure of providing to our customers.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 8022

Lunar, Feldspathic Breccia, Found in Northwest Africa, 2013

Only one 1,226 gram stone of this noteworthy material was found. Lunar meteorites arrive on our planet after material is ejected from the surface of the moon during a impact (by a meteorite!). The surface of the moon is covered in a layer of fragmented and unconsolidated material, or regolith, formed during meteorite impacts. NWA 8022 is composed of fused feldspathic pieces of this regolith. We have just a one slice of this material, and what we have the largest lunar slice we have seen.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 8177

HED Achondrite, Eucrite, Found in Northwest Africa, 2008

Eucrites are igneous rocks from the crust from a differentiated planet body. The HEDs (howardite, eucrite, diogenite), only about 5% of all meteorite falls, are thought to originate from asteroid 4 Vesta. NWA 8177 is a a stunning meteorite “composed of small basaltic eucrite clasts and related debris” per the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. We were able to acquire only one piece of this remarkable meteorite and it is simply a world class specimen.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 8277

Lunar, Found in Northwest Africa, 2013

It takes an extraordinary event for us here on earth to own a piece of the moon. It is illegal to own any sample of lunar material collected by the Apollo Missions to the Moon. So how do we have Lunar material available so the private sector can acquire samples? A meteorite has to impact the moon with enough force to eject material into space, those fragments must then find their way to earth, survive entry through our atmosphere, and land in a location where someone can find it. The odds are overwhelmingly against that chain of events occurring. The NWA 8277 was a small single stone weighing only 773 grams, a breccia with distinct clasts and multiple lithologies. We are fortunate to have a few slices of this rare material available.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 8687

Lunar, Troctolite, Found in Northwest Africa, 2014

It takes an extraordinary event for us here on earth to own a piece of the moon. It is illegal to own any sample of lunar material collected by the Apollo Missions to the Moon. So how do we have Lunar material available so the private sector can acquire samples? A meteorite has to impact the moon with enough force to eject material into space, those fragments must then find their way to earth, survive entry through our atmosphere, and land in a location where someone can find it. The odds are overwhelmingly against that chain of events occurring. Five smooth pieces of this amazing troctolite — with zero fusion crust — were all that were found!

NORTHWEST AFRICA 10102

Ordinary Chondrite L(LL)3, Found in Morocco, 2013

We think this is one of the most exciting chondrites to come to light in ages. Originally classified as a brecciated carbonaceous chondrite CV3 (NWA 6567), it has recently been reclassified as an exceptionally rare L(LL)3! Only 14 other meteorites have ever been found to match this one. Scientifically important material infrequently offered.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 10256

Carbonaceous Chondrite CR2, Found in Northwest Africa, 2015

This chondrule-laden CR2 has a small total known weight of just 707.3 grams. Aerolite acquired six identical appearing full stones with smooth abraded fusion crust. Preparation in the lab revealed many distinct chondrules of variable size set in a dark-grey groundmass. This rare CR2 is thought to have been heated at higher temperatures as compared to other carbonaceous chondrites (CI/CM) and formed in an aqueous environment. An Aerolite exclusive!

NORTHWEST AFRICA 10265

Primative Achondrite (Lodranite), Found in Northwest Africa, 2015

Two vivid silicates are imbedded within this acquired lodranite: spring-green colored pyroxene and yellow-brown olivine crystals. Lodranites are a part of a very small group of primitive achondrites containing meteoritic iron and silicate minerals of mostly olivine and pyroxene. Often we expect olivine crystals to be the prominent silicate, but we find that the pyroxene crystals within this meteorite have rivaled our previous presumptions.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 10495

NORTHWEST AFRICA 11081

HED achondrite, Eucrite, Found in Northwest Africa, 2016

Northwest Africa 11081 is a eucrite — a scientifically important altered volcanic rock from the mighty Asteroid Vesta. One of the few meteorites with a specific known origin point, eucrites are unusual in that they do not attract to a magnet. They are also proof of geologic activity (volcanoes, etc) on large asteroids within our solar system! This meteorite is exclusive to Aerolite Meteorites.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 11303 (provisional)

Stone meteorite, Lunar

The Aerolite Meteorites official photographer amusingly alludes to this fantastic lunar meteorite as the “dark side of the Moon.” It is perhaps the most strikingly unique lunar meteorite that has ever been in our hands. With several inclusions of varying size among a dark groundmass, this brecciated wonder from the surface of the Moon will provide the greatest bang for your buck. Whether it’s the weight of the individual whole stones or illustrious, mirror-polished faces of our full slices and end cuts, this actual piece of the Moon is certain to be the centerpiece of your collection.

NORTHWEST AFRICA 11182

Lunar, feldspathic breccia, Found in Northwest Africa, 2017

The stone from which this specimen comes originated on the surface of our closest neighbor in space, the Moon. A meteorite impact upon the Moon blasted the rock into space. After a time, it collided with Earth and itself became a meteorite.

A single stone weighing of 60 grams was found in the arid desert region of Northwest Africa and was hand carried to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show in February, 2017 where famed meteorite hunter Ruben Garcia purchased it and sent it away to the the Institute of Meteoritics University of New Mexico for testing. It has been officially classified as lunar feldspathic breccia. It is only one of three know lunar meteorites with a negative Ce (cerium) anomaly.

NORTHWEST AFRICA XXX

Stone meteorite (H and L chondrites)

These stone meteorites were found in the Saharan Desert in Northwest Africa, likely by nomads. In order to classify them it would be necessary to cut off a section for analysis. Although they are exceedingly rare when compared to terrestrial rocks, these are the most abundant type of meteorite and are referred to as “common chondrites.” H and L (designating the amount of metal contained) type chondrites have been already extensively studied, and so these attractive stones have been left intact. Composed largely of spherical grain-like silicate chondrules, these stone meteorites were likely once part of the crust of a planet or large asteroid. Some academics believe that chondrules are older than the solar system!

NORTON COUNTY

Achondrite, Aubrite, Witnessed Fall in United States, 1948

Norton County, a rare aubrite meteorite with a white interior, crashed to Earth in Kansas in 1948. The 2,300-lb main mass is now the centerpiece of the Institute of Meteoritics museum at UNM Albuquerque. These unusual historic specimens come directly from IOM/UNM and display original collection numbers from the institute. They are still listed in the UNM catalog. You can verify this by visiting the UNM collection page and searching for “Achondrite”, “Achondrite Groupings”, “All Achondrite Groups”, and “All Brecciation Types” for Norton County.

PULTUSK

Ordinary Chondrite H5, Witnessed fall in Ostroleka, Poland, 1868

Pultusk, Poland was the site of the final Season Three episode of Meteorite Men. Geoff and Steve investigated the fall zone of the historic 1868 meteorite shower, which was one of the largest in in recorded history. By special arrangement with our professional colleagues in Poland, we acquired an outstanding and recently-found Pultusk stone which, when prepared in the lab, produced some of the finest chondrite slices we have ever seen. These excellent specimens display abundant nickel-iron flakes, superb brecciation, and remarkable shock veins. Pultusk fell in the winter of 1868 over snow-covered fields in Poland. The black rocks were easy to see, and almost all known specimens were picked up shortly after the fall. Most of those went to old museum collections, and Pultusk is almost never available on the commercial market. It is a must for the collector of historic meteorites and witnessed falls. We have just one slice remaining in inventory.

RICHFIELD

Richfield is a Type 3 chondrite (LL3.7) and a single mass weighing 40.8 kg was found by a farmer in Kansas in 1983. It shows white and yellow chondrules suspended in an attractive deep green matrix. Type 3 chondrites, such as this, have remained virtually unchanged since they formed through chondrule accretion at the dawn of the solar system.